The most meaninful experience of my life.

For many people the most meaningful experience of their lives is well defined, clear and concise. One given occurrence, at a given time and in a clear setting can change the meaning of life for a person.

One late night I sat down in a quiet room in my house to think about my personal experiences, the only sound in the house came from an old mantel clock, which I like to keep wound and on time. I very much enjoy listening to the rhythmic tic-tock, and I regard it as a remainder of our time here on earth. The lights were dimmed down as low as they could be dimmed. So with the perfect setting, I began a journey back through time, my time, my life. As I tried to pinpoint that exact moment in my life, when everything came together, when it all made sense; I began to understand that life is filled with these precious moments, although we may not realize it right away.

The first, and most recent, and most meaningful experience to come to my mind was the birth of my children. The realization of my hopes and dreams, the humble sense of pride and joy that comes from seeing your seed germinate into this beautiful word. I remembered the fear and anxiety of the everlasting hours in the cold sterile delivery room, and then I thought that the birth of my children signifies the beginning of a new stage in my life. My children have been giving a new meaning to my life every single day since their birth. I try to better myself for them, I try to teach them right from wrong, I comfort them and love them more than I have ever loved anything or anybody.

I could not comply with this as the most meaningful experience of my life yet. I must continue my journey through time, I am sure I will find more meaningful experiences there.

The chimes from the clock seemed to go on forever as I sat in the dark taking myself further back in time, mentally recreating my life, wondering if I would find that well defined moment in my existence that changed it all.

The next intense experience that came to my mind toke place a decade ago, in a far away place, in a different continent, a different country, a different culture; a place that seems so far now, that sometimes I wonder if that place ever existed at all.

As she stood there, in the middle of the crowd, I recognized her. I knew who she was, but did not know when we had met. She waved her hand and said hello. I approached her and we talked, and that was ten years ago. Little did I now that I just met my partner, my life companion, and the mother of my children.

She sure changed my life; could this be my most meaningful experience?

Tic-tock, tic-tock the time seemed as it had melted away, and I felt a worm desire to continue my journey trough time. So far the journey had been very pleasant, but that it was about to change, rough seas lay ahead, or should I say behind.

I painfully toke myself back through eleven years of loneliness and unseen sadness; eleven years of an empty home filled with a lonely child and an absent father. Eleven years for a child is sea of time, all the way back to the next meaningful experience, for I should regard sad as well as good experiences as meaningful.

I still remember the whispering of the people as they walked by me, even an eight-year-old child can tell when grown ups are keeping a secret. Why won't anyone answer my questions? Why was not my mother back from the hospital yet? What was taking so long? It had been well over a year since she was admitted in the hospital and away from home, I missed her and I wanted her to come home.

After they toke all her hair they said she would be fine soon. Why was not anybody telling me where my mother was or why was everybody so sad? After all, an eight-year-old child can comprehend a situation, if laid out in simple words. Were they waiting for me to be a grown up to let me in on their secret?

Yes, this big secret, which I eventually came to realize, did change my life. So should this be it, should I stop now, there has to be some more, all these experiences shaped part of me and who I am, but I will not bestow yet, I will continue to search.

The old mantel clock chimes twice and back I go into my journey through time. The seas are calm now, the sun is shining and my home is filled with light. My older brothers are smiling and listening to the Rolling Stones, my father reading the newspaper and my mother is singing while she magically transforms some vegetables and meat into the most succulent and nourishing dish I have ever brought to my mouth, and so it goes, back as far as I can remember.

Is this it; is this the end to my journey? All I can see now is very bright light; it feels cold, noisy, exciting, and scary at the same time. This is it! My birth, is this my most meaningful experience?

How could I have experienced all these things in my life if I would have not been here in the first place?

Living is the most exciting experience of my life. To have been born, to have been given the gift of life, the chance to be able to experience, to feel, to learn, to think, to do anything that I put my mind to. Life is the most wonderful gift of all.

No good book or movie is so without some intrigue, suspense or passion, good and bad guys, and such as so, no life is without problems and downturns. What makes life interesting is learning; learning from your mistakes and finding the courage to overcome any obstacle, learning to enjoy every single day of our lives to the fullest and to share this joy with everybody; learning to be a better person so you can leave a better place for your children and their children.

All these experiences make each one of us who we are; learn from them and make the best out of your time here.

Live and learn